Traveling Xi’an as a Tourist: PayPal and Other Payment Tips You Need to Know

Okay, so I’m just back from a 10-day trip to Xi’an, and let me tell you—it’s an incredible city. The Terracotta Army, the Muslim Quarter’s street food, the ancient city wall… I loved every bit of it. But before I went, I was stressed about one thing: Can I use PayPal in China? I’d heard China was super cashless, but as someone who relies on PayPal for most things back home, I wasn’t sure how to navigate payments. Spoiler: PayPal isn’t as straightforward as you might hope, but don’t worry—I figured it out, and I’m here to break down what actually works so you can skip the stress.

First things first: Can you use PayPal in Xi’an?

Short answer: Almost nowhere. I’ll admit, I arrived at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport with my PayPal app ready to go, thinking I could grab a taxi or a snack with it. Nope. The taxi driver just stared at my phone when I showed him the QR code, shook his head, and pointed to a sign that said “WeChat Pay/Alipay only.” Same thing at the 7-Eleven near my hotel—cashier didn’t even know what PayPal was. I tried using it at a few souvenir shops near the Terracotta Army too, and one shop owner laughed and said, “Sorry, we don’t have that.”

Why? China’s digital payment scene is dominated by two local giants: WeChat Pay and Alipay. They’re like the PayPal and Venmo of China, but way more ubiquitous. Even street vendors selling roasted chestnuts or bubble tea have WeChat or Alipay QR codes stuck to their carts. PayPal? It’s just not integrated into daily life here. I did manage to find one place that accepted it—a fancy hotel coffee shop—but that was it. So, if you’re planning to rely on PayPal, you’ll be frustrated.

So, what does work? WeChat Pay and Alipay (and how to set them up)

Since PayPal was a no-go, I quickly pivoted to WeChat Pay and Alipay. Here’s the good news: both are easy to use as a tourist, even if you don’t have a Chinese bank account. Here’s how I set them up:

WeChat Pay: The “all-in-one” app

WeChat is basically China’s WhatsApp + Instagram + PayPal combined. Everyone uses it to chat, share moments, and pay for everything. To set up WeChat Pay:

1. Download WeChat (it’s a must-have in China—even to use public Wi-Fi at some cafes).
2. Sign up with your phone number (you’ll need a Chinese SIM card to get a local number, but more on that later).
3. Link a payment method: If you have a Chinese bank account, great. If not, you can link an international credit/debit card (Visa/Mastercard) in the “Wallet” tab. I tried this with my US Visa, and it worked! There’s a daily limit (around $1,000 USD, I think), but that’s more than enough for travel.

Once it’s set up, paying is easy: just open WeChat, go to “Wallet,” select “WeChat Pay,” and scan the merchant’s QR code (or have them scan yours—yes, you can generate your own QR code for people to pay you, which is handy if splitting bills).

Alipay: The “shopper’s favorite”

Alipay is like WeChat Pay but more focused on payments (less chat, more shopping). It’s super popular at malls, restaurants, and even for things like buying train tickets. Setting it up is similar:

1. Download Alipay.
2. Sign up with your phone number (again, a Chinese number helps, but you can use your international number too).
3. Add a payment method: You can link international cards here too, or use the “Tour Wallet” feature, which lets you add foreign currency and exchange it for RMB at a decent rate.

Alipay also has a “scan to pay” function, just like WeChat. I found Alipay especially useful at the Muslim Quarter—most stalls there had Alipay QR codes, and it was faster than fumbling with cash.

What if you don’t want to use WeChat/Alipay? Cash is still king (sometimes)

Let’s be real: setting up new apps can be a hassle, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. Cash is still a backup, but here’s the thing: in big cities like Xi’an, you don’t need a ton of cash, but you should carry some just in case.

Where you’ll need cash:

• Small street vendors: The grandma selling jianbing (Chinese crepes) in the Muslim Quarter? She might only take cash. I learned this the hard way when I tried to pay with Alipay and she just pointed to a jar of coins.
• Local markets: Places like the Xi’an Central Market (for produce or dried goods) often prefer cash, though some stalls have QR codes now.
• Taxi drivers: Most taxis take cash, and some don’t even take cards (or their card machines are broken).

Pro tip: Exchange money at the airport or a bank when you arrive—don’t rely on currency exchange kiosks in tourist areas (they have worse rates). I exchanged $200 USD at Xi’an Xianyang Airport, and it got me by for small purchases.

One big hurdle: Getting a Chinese phone number (or skipping it)

Here’s a catch: to fully use WeChat Pay or Alipay, a Chinese phone number makes things easier. Why? Some features—like topping up your wallet or verifying your identity—require a Chinese SIM. So, what can you do?

Option 1: Buy a Chinese SIM card at the airport. It’s cheap (around $20-30 for 30 days of data and calls), and you can use it to sign up for WeChat/Alipay. I did this, and it made everything smoother. Just bring your passport—they’ll register your SIM for you (it’s a legal requirement in China).

Option 2: Use your international number. Both WeChat and Alipay let you sign up with a foreign number, but you might run into limits. For example, with Alipay’s “Tour Wallet,” you can only use it for small transactions (under $100 USD) without a Chinese number. If you plan to do a lot of shopping, a SIM is worth it.

Other payment tips that saved my trip

1. Download offline maps: Google Maps doesn’t work well in China, so use Baidu Maps or Amap (AutoNavi). They have English versions and show where WeChat/Alipay QR codes are accepted.
2. Use Didi (China’s Uber): Taxis in Xi’an are cheap, but Didi is easier—you can pay with WeChat or Alipay in the app, and no need to worry about drivers not having change. Just download the Didi app (it’s like Uber) and link your payment method.
3. Tell your bank you’re traveling: I almost got my card blocked because I didn’t notify my bank I was in China. A quick call to my bank saved me from a “card declined” panic at a restaurant.
4. Keep small bills: If you do use cash, get some 10 RMB and 20 RMB notes—vendors often can’t break big bills (like 100 RMB), and it’s annoying to carry around change.

My “oops” moments (and how you can avoid them)

• Trying to pay with a credit card at a small restaurant: I went to a cute noodle place near the city wall and thought my Visa would work. Nope. The owner just shook his head and pointed to his WeChat code. Luckily, I had Alipay set up, so I scanned it and laughed it off. Lesson learned: small, local places = mobile pay only.
• Forgetting to save QR codes: Some shops have tiny QR codes, and if you don’t screenshot them, you might have to ask the staff to pull them up again (which can be awkward if they’re busy). I started saving all my favorite QR codes in a “WeChat favorites” folder—genius.
• Running out of battery: Your phone is your wallet, so a dead phone = no way to pay. I carried a portable charger everywhere, and it was a lifesaver.

Final thoughts: You don’t need PayPal—but you do need a plan

Xi’an is an amazing city, and the payment situation isn’t as scary as it seems once you’re prepared. PayPal? Leave it at home. Focus on setting up WeChat Pay or Alipay (or both), grab some cash for emergencies, and you’ll be good to go.

One last thing: don’t let the payment stress stop you from enjoying the food. The roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers), the liangpi (cold skin noodles), the yangrou paomo (bread soup with lamb)—it’s all worth figuring out the payments for. Trust me, once you buy your first jianbing with a quick QR code scan, you’ll feel like a local.

Happy travels—and enjoy the dumplings!